Universal
Music
Group
(UMG),
the
world's
leading
music
company,
has
joined
forces
with
Eros
International,
the
leading
integrated
studio
in
India's
media
and
entertainment
industry,
to
launch
a
joint-venture
artist-management
agency
to
groom
and
promote
Indian
pop
talent
locally
and
globally.
The
agreement
was
announced
today
by
Kishore
Lulla,
Chairman
&
CEO,
Eros
International,
and
Max
Hole,
President,
Universal
Music
Asia
Pacific
Region,
and
Executive
Vice
President,
Universal
Music
Group
International
(UMGI).
The
joint
venture
was
officiated
with
a
contractual
signing
on
November
18,
and
came
into
immediate
effect.
Rajat
Kakar,
Managing
Director
of
Universal
Music
India,
has
been
appointed
the
inaugural
Chairman
of
the
JV.
Sunil
Lulla,
President,
India,
of
Eros
International,
and
Jyoti
Deshpande,
COO
of
Eros
International
Group,
are
on
the
JV's
Board
of
Directors.
The
launch
phase
will
focus
on
marketing
and
promotional
initiatives
for
new,
undiscovered
pop
acts
from
around
India.
This
agreement
is
the
first
of
its
kind
for
UMG
in
both
India
and
the
South
East
Asia
region.
Established
in
1977,
Eros
International
operates
a
strategic
Indian-film
business
that
covers
Global
Distribution,
Motion
Pictures,
Music,
Home
Entertainment,
e-Television,
New
Media
and
Animation.
With
offices
in
more
than
50
countries,
Eros
releases
up
to
50
new
films
annually
and
exploits
a
1,900-title
film
library,
making
it
one
of
the
largest
content
owners
in
the
business.
Universal
Music
Group
is
the
world's
leading
music
company
with
wholly
owned
record
operations
or
licensees
in
77
countries.
Its
company
in
India
is
headquartered
in
Mumbai.
The
partnership
with
Eros
will
ensure
that
fresh
new
artists
will
be
signed
and
promoted
throughout
the
country
as
well
as
internationally.
With
access
to
UMG's
artist-management
expertise,
they
will
also
be
provided
with
exciting
opportunities
to
develop
their
talent
and
be
exposed
to
new,
wide-reaching
promotional
avenues.
Max
Hole
said:
"Eros
is
an
incredibly
exciting
and
ambitious
company.
Combining
the
creative
ideas
and
marketing
skills
of
Eros
and
Universal
Music
will
certainly
give
a
huge
boost
to
Indian
music
and
artist
development."
Added
Kishore
Lulla:
"Music
and
films
are
naturally
intertwined,
so
the
synergy
is
unmistakable.
As
we
continue
to
expand
our
film
slate,
we
are
constantly
searching
for
new
talent.
Our
tie-up
with
Universal,
and
their
expertise
in
pop
music
talent
management,
is
perfectly
complimentary
with
Eros'
ability
to
offer
a
credible
platform
for
such
talent
through
its
films
or
worldwide
distribution
network.
The
possibilities
for
Indian
and
international
collaborations
are
very
exciting."
Rajat
Kakar
commented:
"Indian
music
today
is
at
a
very
interesting
juncture,
influenced
by
global
trends
and
distributed
via
new
avenues.
We
are
excited
at
the
prospect
of
pioneering
India's
first-ever
360
talent
management
entity
aimed
at
creating
musical
icons
that
appeal
to
millions
of
Indians,
with
the
potential
of
appealing
to
global
audiences
as
well."